cÁn Idea of a 
2. $. By due Reflection upon what hath been Performed; it alfo 
appears; what Telefe Jiperfeä, and what Undone, For the Virtues of 
moft Plants, are with much wzccitaiaty, and too promifenonfly alcribed 
to them. Sothat ifyou turn over an Herbal, you hall find almofk 
every Herb, to be good for cvery Diftafe. And ot the Virtues of 
many, they are altogether filent. And although, for the finding out, 
and juft appropriation of them, they have left us fome Rules, yet not 
all. The Defect Jikewife of many, are yet to be perfected; el 
pecially as totheir Roots. Thofe who are very curious about the 
other Parts, being yet here too remiß. And as for their Figures, it 
were muchtobe wilhed, That they were all drawn by one Scales or, 
at moft, by Two; one, for Trees and Shrubs; and another for Herbs, 
Many likewife oftheir Ranks and Affinities, are yet undetermined. 
And a great number of Names, both Engl and Latine,not well given. 
So what we call-Goat's-Rue, is not at all of kin to that Plant, whofe 
Generical Name it be: The like may be faid of Wild-Tan 
Fuly-Flomers, Horfé-Radifp, and many more. So alfo when y 
Bellis Major, & Minor, as we commonly do, thefe Nam 
mate, That the Plants to which they are given, differ (as the gre 
double Marigold, doth trom the leß) only in Bulk ; whereas, intrut 
they are two Species of Plants. So we commonly fay, Centaurium: Mi 
jus & Minus, Chelidonium Maj nus, and of others inlike man- 
nner, which yet are diftindt Species,an different Tribes. But for 
the Reafon of Vegetation, and the Can 
therein obfervable (Imean fo faras Matter, and the various Affei- 
ons hereof, are inftrumental thereunto) almoftall Men have feemedto 
be unconeerned. 
3-/5: That Nothing heréof remaincth farther to be known, is a 
Thought not well.Calculated. For if weconfider how long and gra- 
dual a Journey the Knowledge of Nature d how fhort a Time 
we have to proceed therein 5' as on the one hand, we fhall conclude ie 
our eafè and profit, To fee how far Others have gone before us: fo 
fhall we beware on the other, That we conceive not unduly of 
sure, whilft we have a juft value for Thole, who were but her Dif 
ples, and inftruéted by Her.. Their Time and Abilities both, being 
fhort to her 5 which, as She was firt Defigned by Divine Wifdoms 
fomay Her valti Dimenfions belt be adjudged of, in being compared 
Therewith. Ie will therefore be our Prudence, not to infift upon 
the Anvidious Queftion, Which of Her Scholars have taken the faireft 
meafure of Hers, but to be well fatisfied, that as yet She hath not 
been Circumícribed by Any. 
4. $. Nor doth it more behove us to confider, how much of the 
Nature: of Vegetation may lie before us yet unknown 5 Than, to be- 
lieve, a great part thereof to be lezomable. Not concluding from the 
acknowlédged,! maith le fuppofed Infuecefsfulnes, of any Mens Un- 
dertakings + but fiom what may be accounted Pofíible,asto the Nature 
ofthings;themfelves; and: from Divine Providence, by Infinite Ways 
condatting to, the knowledge of them. ther can we determine 
how apart This may be : Becaute, It is impofJible t0-Meafüre, what 
mot. And fince we are moft likely to under-meafure, we fhalt 
hereby but intrench our Endeavours, which we arenot wont to carry 
beyond the Idea, whichwe have of our Work, 
5.5. And 
